--- title: "What Scottish Independence Could Mean for Its National Drink" id: "25062" type: "post" slug: "what-scottish-independence-could-mean-for-its-national-drink" published_at: "2014-09-16T18:29:50+00:00" modified_at: "2026-03-16T12:42:32+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2014/09/16/what-scottish-independence-could-mean-for-its-national-drink/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2014/09/16/what-scottish-independence-could-mean-for-its-national-drink.md" excerpt: "The Scotch Whisky Association is outlining some of the possible effects—largely to do with trade—that an independent Scotland could have on the industry." taxonomy_category: - "Advocacy" taxonomy_post_tag: - "AssociationsNow" - "Leadership" - "Scottish independence" - "tradeshows" - "whisky industry" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Association CEO / Executive Director" - "C-Level" - "Executive Team" taxonomy_persona: - "Executive Leadership" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » What Scottish Independence Could Mean for Its National Drink It’s just days before the planned vote on Scottish independence on September 18, and concerns are rising about the possible effects independence may have on the Scotch whisky industry. Currency and trade concerns appear to be top of mind for the Scotch Whisky Association, [according to various news reports (opens in a new tab)](http://time.com/3362520/scotch-whisky-makers-arent-warming-to-the-prospect-of-scottish-independence/) , as it is still uncertain what currency an independent Scotland would use as well as what its access to foreign markets would look like. “The implications are huge,” David Frost, SWA chief executive, [said in a position statement (opens in a new tab)](http://www.scotch-whisky.org.uk/news-publications/blog/scottish-referendum-2014/#.VBchJJRdVc8) back in May. “This industry is in a special position in this debate. We can make Scotch whisky only in Scotland, and our brands are indissolubly linked with it. Thirty-five thousand jobs depend on the industry.” Exports of the drink also generated roughly £4.3 billion last year for the United Kingdom, according to SWA, which [reported several victories](https://associationsnow.com/2014/05/scotch-whisky-association-stop-selling-fake-scotch/) earlier this year in its fight to stop overseas distillers from selling imitation scotch. [It’s been reported (opens in a new tab)](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/bank-of-england/11084339/Mark-Carney-Currency-union-is-incompatible-with-Scottish-independence.html) that should Scotland secede from the United Kingdom, the newly independent country would not be able to use the U.K.’s currency. This could impact Scotch exports, supply chain management, pricing, and competitiveness, Frost said. The Scotch trade may also be negatively impacted as a result of fewer international ties. An independent Scotland plans to open about 70 to 90 consulates and embassies around the world, which accounts for only half of the 200 countries where Scotch is currently exported. There’s also the question of whether Scotland would have membership in the European Union. “Even a temporary interruption of EU membership involving exclusion from the single market or the customs union, if this were a consequence of independence, would be damaging and difficult to manage,” Frost said. No matter the outcome on Thursday, SWA said it will work with the resulting government in the best interests of the industry. “Whatever the result on September 18, we are committed to working with the government in the future to deliver sustainable economic growth—either helping to shape the policy regime for an independent Scotland or engaging in the debate about further devolution,” Frost said. “That is what the people of Scotland would expect.” (iStock/Thinkstock) [Katie Bascuas](https://associationsnow.com/author/katie-bascuas/) Katie Bascuas is a former associate editor at Associations Now in Washington, DC. [More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/katie-bascuas/) Tags: [#Leadership](https://associationsnow.com/tag/leadership/) [#Scottish independence](https://associationsnow.com/tag/scottish-independence/) [#tradeshows](https://associationsnow.com/tag/tradeshows/) [#whisky industry](https://associationsnow.com/tag/whisky-industry/) **Stay Informed** [Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/) , *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day. ## You Might Like - [VideoThe Career Moves Every Association Leader Needs Right NowSeptember 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/24/the-career-moves-every-association-leader-needs-right-now/) - [VideoUrban Land Institute- Project Recovery: Rebuilding Los Angeles After the January 2025 WildfiresSeptember 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/24/urban-land-institute-project-recovery-rebuilding-los-angeles-after-the-january-2025-wildfires/) - [VideoNCRA: Safeguarding Cancer Surveillance: An Advocacy Response to FY26 Budget ThreatsSeptember 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/24/ncra-safeguarding-cancer-surveillance-an-advocacy-response-to-fy26-budget-threats/) - [VideoASAE Legislative Summit 2026March 26, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/03/26/asae-legislative-summit-2026/) ## Comments **Comments are for ASAE members.** [Learn more about comments on this site.](https://associationsnow.com/comments/) [Log in](https://associationsnow.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fassociationsnow.com%2F2014%2F09%2F16%2Fwhat-scottish-independence-could-mean-for-its-national-drink%2F%23comments) to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/) !